A woman driving a stolen car with a pipe bomb inside dragged a Hillsborough County deputy and crashed into a Tampa school bus carrying 41 middle school students on Wednesday, September 23.
The children were not hurt. The driver, Tonnetta Evans, 54, now faces more than a dozen charges, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies pulled Evans over in a silver Kia Forte around 4:36 p.m. on Hillsborough Avenue West, just west of Dale Mabry Highway. During the stop, they developed probable cause to search the car. Evans was alone in the vehicle and refused to cooperate when deputies tried to get her out.
She did not step out. She did not put her hands up. She threw the car in drive and took off east with a deputy still partially inside.
She did not get far. Before deputies could even start a pursuit, Evans slammed into the Tampa school bus. It was carrying 41 students from Pierce Middle School, along with the bus driver and a bus aide. Sheriff Chad Chronister said no students were injured and the bus had only minor damage.
Evans kept going after the crash. Deputies caught up with her near the Howard Avenue and Armenia Avenue ramp to southbound Interstate 275 and took her into custody. The sheriff’s office released video of deputies closing in on her.
Then came the search. Inside the Kia, deputies say they found:
- a pipe bomb
- brass knuckles, a Taser and a bandolier of shotgun shells
- methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription pills
- counterfeit cash and silver coins
- multiple IDs and credit cards belonging to other people
The car had been reported stolen out of Kentucky in 2022.
Authorities have not said why Evans had an explosive device in the car or what she intended to do with it.
The sheriff’s office says Evans has been convicted of felonies 11 times. Her new charges include:
- aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, which covers dragging the deputy with the car
- aggravated fleeing to elude
- leaving the scene of a crash involving a school bus
- felon in possession of ammunition
Chronister called Evans a dangerous career criminal. He said she showed no regard for the deputy, other drivers or the kids on that Tampa school bus. He added that the community was “extremely fortunate that no one was seriously hurt.”
